May 2

 Up at 6:50 sun is shining. Caroline and I went for a walk up the Harlech Estate Road. Went through a secret tunnel under the road. Caroline used the flashlight on her phone to direct us in the dark. 

The tunnel brought us to a grade two listed property that is being restored. It is called Swiss Cottage. It is a fascinating piece of Architecture with the portico being supported by tree trunks that were cut to fit underneath. Inside apparently is a library with a false door painted like a library shelf.  

We walked around the lake through old Gardens and traipsed through some undergrowth and back over a stone wall to the road. It was a lovely morning for walking. Mara came with us. Back to the house for 11 o'clock where Steve had prepared a full English breakfast. It was delicious. 

Stephen and Caroline are having a rock wall repaired in front of their house. Left for Shrewsbury while the sun is shining about 12:30. We went to a parking lot-the town was full due to the Shrewsbury food and music festival, also a bank holiday weekend so the place was absolutely chock-a-block. It took several times around one parking lot before giving up and going to another. Steve manage to shoehorn the car into one of the two spots that were available. We went to pay for the parking but the machine was down so you had to download an app and log into prepaid for parking. If you didn't you could be liable for a fine of 60 pounds. They take a picture of every car that's coming in. Then we went to a bike shop where Steve picked up a bicycle riding shirt. Off we walked up the street avoiding cars and people. We stopped at Tanners Wine Merchants, an extensive facility that has been operating here for over a hundred years.

 

Continuing up the hill we arrived at the market. This market was built in 1597 and it's main purpose was to receive the wool that the Welsh people would bring in to sell.  The accounting was all done here. 

We took a guided tour delivered by an extremely knowledgeable lady estimated to be in her early eighties who had immigrated from Italy 50 years ago. She had a great sense of humor. 

She told us of the history of Shrewsbury which is extensive.  This city was founded somewhere in the fifth and 6th century but it came to prominence when William the Conqueror arrived. His brother was charged with building a castle and the first one was built in 1074. The abbey followed in 1083 also built by the Normans. In the 12th century the Welsh invaded because they wanted to expand their land holdings. There were four significant churches, one of which St. Marys was built in the 12th century and has a lovely stained glass window behind the altar.

The tour took about one and a half hours and there were about 12 people besides ourselves. There were lots of wood frame houses.

After the tour we went to Saint Vincent's wine bar for beer and wine and a dish of white bait (small minnow type fish cooked whole and eaten that way) dipped in lemon juice and mayonnaise and roasted green peppers.

Home at 7:00 p.m. Time to put a fire on and have a glass of wine. At eight we had supper prepared by Caroline. My second time having duck -both times cooked by Caroline, 2010 and now. It was delicious.

Then we repaired to the TV lounge and had some cheese and more wine. Played another game of Five Crowns won by Caroline; I lost badly again.

On a positive note the Blue Jays won another series today this one against Minnesota. We are off to bed at 11 o'clock